November 20 – 22, 1998
These restored messages come from the Quilt History List, an online forum where quilt historians, collectors, researchers, appraisers, and enthusiasts discussed antique quilts and related textiles. The archive dates from 1996 through approximately 2016 and is being restored gradually. Sign up in the form at the bottom of the page if you want to know when a new page is added. Original spelling, opinions, formatting, and inactive links may remain unchanged.
Primary topics of this QHL Digest:
- Wool Batting Discussion Continues — Ongoing thread about wool batting for quilts, including a compiled digest of prior QHL discussions, Orvus soap sources, and comparisons of different wool batt brands. (see the article on quilt batting)
- Mourning Pins and Toilet Pins — Members identify mysterious black-headed straight pins as Victorian-era ‘toilet pins’ and ‘mourning pins,’ discussing their use in dress, mourning customs, and connections to Amish pinning traditions. (see the article on Victorian mourning customs)
- Redwork and Denim Articles in Quilting Magazines — Sorting out which Chitra Publications magazine carried specific articles on redwork and denim projects, with members clarifying title confusion between Traditional Quiltworks and Quilting Today. (see the article on redwork and outline embroidery)
- Mourning Customs and Sewing History — Discussion of Victorian mourning practices, apron-pinning traditions, and the etymology of ‘pinafore,’ with a reference to an article on mourning customs in VQTS.
- Orvus Soap for Quilt Washing — Practical tips on purchasing and using Orvus paste for washing quilts, including buying in bulk from tack stores. (see the article on cleaning antique quilts)
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 22:46:40 -0500 | From: Anthony <ajones2 [at] tampabay [dot] rr [dot] com>
I happen to love wool batts. They’re warm in winter and comfortable in warmer weather. It quilts like butter, hand and machine, and if your quilt doesn’t hang perfectly flat, you can block it with steam. I do wash them in the machine without a problem. However, I use a front loading machine which is much gentler on fabric. It tumbles clothes in an action similar to handwashing, rather than beating them with an agitator. (Something to consider next time you’re shopping; especially if you have to wash expensive fabrics and quilts) To: reiterate two earlier, very important (IMHO), comments. Wool <is> animal hair and Orvus is formulated for shampooing horses. I think Orvus is the secret. It is contains or detergents to soap and rinses away easily, with minimal agitation. It doesn’t strip the natural lanolins which keep the wool soft and supple. It seems expensive, but you use very little so probably get as many loads as with that bottle of Cheer.
I’ve been told that it is actually the newly hatched moth larve that eat the wool. If the wool is encased in another fabric, the moths can’t get to it to lay their eggs. I’m not an entymologist, but living in Florida, you learn much more about bugs than you ever wanted to know.
Anthony
“falling to pieces and lovin’ it”
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 23:31:09 -0500 | From: “Judy Grow” <Judygrow [at] blast [dot] net>
>Then I rewashed and hand scrubbed the blocks. When they dried, the redwork shrunk and shriveled up the center of the squares. I tried rewetting and steam ironing it flat but just ironed the wrinkles in with no stretching.
Jan, Jan,
Relax. I think I have the solution to your shriveled redwork centers. Get a piece of homosote. Draw the size squares you want the blocks to be on the board, and staple each wetted block in turn to dry on the board, stapling as close to the outside cut edge as you can. Or push pin them down square. You are “blocking” them. It might take some time, but it will do the job.
And how come you were at Borders and didn’t come across trhe street to see me?
Judy in Ringoes, NJ judygrow [at] blast [dot] net
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1998 16:36:24 -0800 | From: Anne Scott <nzquilter [at] xtra [dot] co [dot] nz>
I use wool batting in all my bed quilts. Yes, it is wonderful to needle and I like the warmth.
It is flame resistant, does not crease as easily if folded regularly, plus breathes as it is a natural fibre.
There are no insect problems with using it sandwiched between layers of cotton fabrics.
New Zealand wool batting is very good quality, and much much cheaper than cotton – we don’t grow cotton but we have 41 million sheep. It comes in natural and dyed black also.
I have no problems washing it – do not change the water temperature, tepid, no mroe, no less and do not agitate. Use a ph neutral soap (Orvus), spin out the excess water in the washing machine and dry flat (I use a trampoline.)
It was I who posted the information of extensive testing on wool batting which was done in New Zealand five years ago.
Happy to email this to those who request it – at 1000 plus words, its a bit much for the list.
Anne Scott
Editor & Publisher
New Zealand QUILTER magazine
Wellington, New Zealand
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 22:57:55 -0600 | From: Mary Waller <mswaller [at] iw [dot] net>
Jan’s looking for Alan’s article on redwork and Lynn’s looking for my denim Christmas stockings. The problem is mistaken identity Alan and I are in the current Traditional Quiltworks (#59) published by Chitra Publications. Traditional Quilter is a different publication, but anyone could confuse the two.
Since these articles are in a current, widely available publication on newstands or from Chitra, please support the publications and buy the magazine.
Also, the pattern and instructions for making the denim stockings is not in the magazine, but a color photo of 5 stockings is part of an article on recycling jeans. The pattern and instructions are available directly from: me.
Mary Waller
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1998 09:01:38 EST | From: QuiltFixer [at] aol [dot] com
In a message dated 11/20/98 91540 PM Pacific Standard Time, mswaller [at] iw [dot] net writes
<< Since these articles are in a current, widely available publication on newstands or from Chitra, please support the publications and buy the magazine. >>
I agree that we should buy the magazine if it is still available. That is only fair. In this case, I got caught up in the confusion and thought it was no longer around. Unfortunately, many of us, myself included, cannot afford to: buy all the wonderful quilting magazine out there. Another problem is getting the magazine. Not all quilting magazine are readily available to me, so I would be interested in more information about Chitra. This thread reminded me of my embarrassment not too long ago when I mentioned to a friend of mine, who is an author, that I had not been able to find a particular book of his in any used book store. He gently told me that it was still available at Barnes and Noble, and other major book stores. He quietly said “authors do not get paid when you buy a used book.” To make matters worse, he gave me autographed copy free! Wow, talk about learning a lesson. Maybe I needed to learn it a couple of times. ) Toni Baumgard
QuiltFixer [at] aol [dot] com
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1998 09:09:49 -0600 | From: Mary Waller <mswaller [at] iw [dot] net>
Chitra Publications publishes “Quilting Today”, “Traditional Quiltworks” and “Miniature Quilts”, along with specialty magazines like “Quilted Gifts”, “Fabric Showcase Special”, Sharyn Craig’s books and others. Their URL is www.QuiltTownUSA.com. Back issues are available. A recent issue of Quilting Today gives subscription prices at less than $20 for Quilting Today and Traditional Quiltworks. Call (800) 628-8244.
As a beginning author, I found Chitra to be very helpful and easy to work with. I’ve gotten lots of nice comments from the how-to article published in Quilting Today. I see plenty of names I recognize from QHL in Quilting Today and Traditional Quiltworks.
There certainly are a plethora of choices in quilting publications these days, and it’s easy to confuse titles. What a terrible problem to have, isn’t it too many good books, magazines, fabric choices, patterns, tools…. And if you like a particular publication, topic, author or article, support them by subscribing, recommending them to others, and/or drop the publisher a note and let them know what you enjoyed and what you’d like to see more of. Copyright is always a touchy subject and I often wonder why it’s so hard for people to understand. When a book or other publication is out-of-print, hard to find or outside of our budget, it’s still violating the copyright holder’s rights to copy something, no matter how good it is or hard to obtain.
Mary Waller
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1998 12:01:22 -0500 | From: Nancy Roberts <robertsn [at] norwich [dot] net>
Some of the confusion in finding the magazine with the denim and redwork articles is likely in the name of the magazine. It’s Traditional Quiltworks from: Chitra Publications. Issue 59 is on sale at newsstands until Jan. 11. If you are unable to find a copy locally, you can order with a credit card by calling (800) 628-8244. Or visit the company website at http://www.QUILTTOWNUSA.COM/index.htm
Two magazines with similar names cause confusion occasionally! Hope this helps. Nancy Roberts (co-editor)
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1998 12:20:33 EST | From: Lalalawyr [at] aol [dot] com
In a message dated 98-11-20 224741 EST, ajones2 [at] tampabay [dot] rr [dot] com writes << Wool <is> animal hair and Orvus is formulated for shampooing horses. I think Orvus is the secret.
It is contains or detergents to soap and rinses away easily, with minimal agitation. It doesn’t strip the natural lanolins which keep the wool soft and supple. It seems expensive, but you use very little so probably get as many loads as with that bottle of Cheer. >>
I have been told (though I haven’t checked it out) that you can get Orvus at tack stores in bulk at much cheaper rates than you would pay at quilt shops. For those not familiar with the term, a tack store is the place you go to get horse supplies (tack = horse “accessories” – bridles, saddles, brushes, etc.).
Melissa
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1998 12:33:57 -0600 (CST) | From: magee [at] AXP [dot] WINNEFOX [dot] ORG
Yes Orvus is available in tack stores, but realize that you may be buying a large container(like a gallon) but it is cheaper.
> I have been told (though I haven’t checked it out) that you can get Orvus at tack stores in bulk at much cheaper rates than you would pay at quilt shops.
> For those not familiar with the term, a tack store is the place you go to get horse supplies (tack = horse “accessories” – bridles, saddles, brushes, etc.).
> Melissa
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1998 13:49:45 -0500 | From: The Lesters <jeanntom [at] utkux [dot] utcc [dot] utk [dot] edu>
I went to a flea market, today and a friend had a box of pins for sale. She didn’t know exactly what they were and neither did I. They were in a small box that was black with silver or white printing and were labeled “Black Toilet Pins”. The pins were the size of sewing pins but were indeed black. They were from Montgomery Ward. Does anybody know why these are called that?
Jean Lester
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 98 17:02:36 EST | From: “Bob Mills” <decision [at] tigger [dot] jvnc [dot] net>
Mary, Thanks for clearing up my confusion over the two magazine names. I would love to buy the magazine-if I could find it. Borders, Barnes and Noble and Encore Books are the three largest magazine retailers in my central NJ area and they don’t carry it. Nor does Jo-Anne fabrics which is the only other source of sewing/quilting magazines.
Has anyone else had trouble finding the magazine? It does not seem to be widely distributed in this area of the east. And while I would love to have subscriptions to all available quilt magazines, budget constraints prevail.
Jan Drechsler in Princeton, NJ
Mary Waller wrote
Jan’s looking for Alan’s article on redwork and Lynn’s looking for my denim Christmas stockings. The problem is mistaken identity Alan and I are in the current Traditional Quiltworks (#59) published by Chitra Publications. Traditional Quilter is a different publication, but anyone could confuse the two.
Since these articles are in a current, widely available publication on newstands or from Chitra, please support the publications and buy the magazine.
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1998 19:33:51 EST | From: JBQUILTOK [at] aol [dot] com
Since Toilet once was used to refer to dressing and straight pins were used to hold clothes together or pin on tussy-mussies (flowers), these may have been sold for that purpose. They sound much too small to have been hat pins.
Janet
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1998 20:21:57 EST | From: Tmauvlus [at] aol [dot] com
In a message dated 11/21/98 15130 PM Eastern Standard Time, jeanntom [at] utkux [dot] utcc [dot] utk [dot] edu writes << small box that was black with silver or white printing and were labeled “Black Toilet Pins”. >>
Jean, you didn’t mention if the pins were antique or of recent vintage. It is possible that they were for use during a time of mourning. Those folks were verrrrrrrry serious about the mourning rituals, as we have often discussed here. Teddy Pruett
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1998 20:38:35 -0600 | From: KAREN BUSH <Birdsong [at] worldnet [dot] att [dot] net>
Lynn…this may not have been ‘quilt’ related, but *I* for one certainly appreciate your concern! I live in the same type of town and am Terrible about locking Anything…THANK YOU for the reminder there’s always someone just around the corner waiting for a chance to get in…Luckily yours has just been the bikes. It’s a scary world out there, and I DO appreciate this! ) kb
— of it. Please just be more careful, especially as we approach the holidays. We’ve had 2 bikes stolen which we aren’t sure if it is connected to the rest, but we sure are now much more careful. Sorry if this offends anyone that it has nothing to do with quilts. I just wanted to share in hopes that our errors might help others.
In rainy New Bern, NC, Lynn Gorges (palampore [at] aol [dot] com)
Whatsoever ye sew, so shall ye rip…..
************************************************************** http://idahoquilt.com/kbbook.htm
“QUILT AS DESIRED” THE book to own!!!!
Visit me for my book “Quilt As Desired” and for Hand Quilting Services
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1998 20:43:04 -0600 | From: KAREN BUSH <Birdsong [at] worldnet [dot] att [dot] net>
Actually, I’ve used the wool batting WITHOUT washing it first. Unlike the cottons. I have a better ‘needle’ with it, and there’s not the ‘density’ after washing that I have to contend with. I’ve washed one of my quilts AFTER quilting the wool, and it did a beautiful job. VERY little agitation….I think that’s one of the keys to: the whole thing. And, it IS hair, after all. VERY gentle handling. I only washed it after quilting just to see what it would do. I think I like the looks even BETTER than cotton, I SURE like quilting it better!
kb
—
Whatsoever ye sew, so shall ye rip…..
************************************************************** http://idahoquilt.com/kbbook.htm
“QUILT AS DESIRED” THE book to own!!!!
Visit me for my book “Quilt As Desired” and for Hand Quilting Services
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1998 21:41:02 -0600 | From: Russell-Hill <russhill [at] ctesc [dot] net>
Hi All,
It sure turned out to be a pretty day here in the Hill Country of Texas. As I was reading the post about Black Toilet Pins it brought back memories of when the nuns who I had in school used to use them on their habits, to keep them closed and the bibs of their aprons pinned up. Today they wear street clothes or if it is a habit they are made like our clothes, no more pins. Yes in the 1860″s many of the magazines speak of toilets, it would be a dressing table or area. It would have been use to hold things together or on. Pin cushions back then were extremly large like 12″ square or bigger. Tack shops are cheaper than quilt shops for Orvis but the fed and grain stores would be even cheaper. The tack shops are specialty shops to and so if you get down to the nitty gritty feed and grain shops are better. I bought a gallon of the past for under $15. I think an 8 oz. jar is $8 in a quilt shop.
Debbie russhill [at] ctesc [dot] net
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 22:55:43 -0500 | From: paul hahn <phahn [at] erols [dot] com>
I have both “Toilet Pins” inserted in cardboard cubes and “Mourning Pins” in a small black and silver box among my vintage sewing notions. I went up to my sewing room to look closer at them when the question came up. The ”toilet pins” are in various sizes, longer and shorter pin shafts and larger and smaller pin heads, but still around the size of a straight pin. I have black, white and sort of ecru. The various labels all claim, “glass heads, best steel shafts and Made in Germany”. I thought these were used in securing clothing. The label on the box of “Mourning Pins,” only tell me they are Made in Germany. On closer inspection, they appear to be exactly like many of the toilet pins, although the mourning pins in my box have a non-shiney, more satin- finish black glass bead head. Don’t know if that is the usual, or just what I happened to stumble upon. I guess my “Mourning Pins” would appear a bit more subdued than the more shiney black “Toilet Pins,” so maybe more correct during an official mourning period.
Nancy Hahn, Maryland
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 06:51:14 -0600 | From: “Gail Richter” <richter2 [at] frontiernet [dot] net>
Hi,
As a spinner & weaver & novice quilter I’ve been following this thread with interest. I haven’t tried a wool batt yet.
I couldn’t find Orvus at our local Farm & Home until someone told me it was labeled Show Paste. It does come in a large container, but you could split it up among a couple of friends. (The size I have is more like 1/2 gallon.) Even if you don’t it’s not that expensive & you can use it for everything including your own hair.
There is at least one carding mill that I know of in my state which makes wool batts for quilting as well as for comforters & handspinning. There’s probably more; I just haven’t heard specifically. Try asking around at spinning or weaving guilds, your farm friends, Spin Off magazine (an Interweave Press publication) or the yellow pages.
Gail Richter
Wis.
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 08:08:29 EST | From: Quilt97 [at] aol [dot] com
Here is a compilation from QHL digests and some personal emails concerning wool batting.
Elisabeth
<<
Quite some time ago we had a thread on wool quilts, wool batting and one of our Aussie members posted directions on how to wash wool successfully. The best I can remember was that a change in temp. during washing and drying was the key problem to shrinkage. Does anyone remember this? Can we repost the information.
Laura >>
My question to Sally Wool batts cannot be agitated when washed, right? As that ‘felts’ them . . . Do you just soak and spin your wool batting lap quilt?>
From: sward [at] t-ward [dot] demon [dot] co [dot] uk (Sally Ward) Absolutely right, what felts wool is the combination of agitation and changes in water temperature – all the washes and rinses must be kept at a constant (not hot) temp.
That said, I have washed my lap quilt three times in my automatic machine on ‘delicates’ (I;m very idle you see <g>) because it is a sample which goes with me to class and is also used in front of the tv by dd and ds. It dries flat on towels on the living room floor (quite quickly) and has neither shrunk nor felted. I haven’t yet had to tackle the larger size, which I think would be too cramped in the machine, so I can’t talk about that yet. What I used was Hobbs wool, which I think has some treatments to aid stability. Can’t speak for other brands, but I am trying to source some New Zealand wool to experiment with.
I just think wool is THE best stuff because it is so nice to work with and so comfortable to be under. I am an eco-freak and hate polyester – it ‘gets up my nose’ both literally and figuratively. <g>. I find it hard to convince students to use wool instead of poly because of the price difference, but I finish so few quilts that I figure my effort is worth it! And it is SOO depressing when polyester starts to ‘beard’ after hours of work. The wool hasn’t so far, despite its constant use.
Something else – my brother works for P&G, the soap mfrs. and he has explained to me the difference between British and American washing habits. I didn’t realise that we use different machines, different temperature cycles, and differently formulated soaps. – he tells me that you add bleach to washes, whereas our powders have them incoporated, and that you have high pressure feeds straight off the tap to top loader machines with agitating paddles, whereas we tend all to be on automatic front loader drums with built- in heaters. This means that when I say ‘I bung it in the machine’ what happens to the quilt may be different to what happens when you ‘bung it in the machine’.
Bottom line is, what works for me may not work for you so PLEASE experiment before you commit a whole quilt!!
Regards, and thanks for writing
Sally in West Yorkshire UK
~~
From: Anne Scott <nzquilter [at] xtra [dot] co [dot] nz>
To: QHL [at] cuenet [dot] com
Subject: QHL Wool batting
I personally love wool batting and use it as my batting of choice for my bed quilts. Not only does it needle beautifully, but it wears well – it is more resilient and does not show the fold marks as easily as cotton in my opinion.
And is wonderful to sleep under.
In New Zealand, we have 42 million sheep (3.6 million people) and wool batting is not an expensive commodity. It is used far more widely than cotton battings which are imported from the USA and very expensive. Dacron is still the most commonly used batting.
As for shrinkage, when washed carefully, (and providing your quilting is not widely spaced) this does not happen. You get problems with wool batting when you change the temperature of the water suddenly. Then it can mat and shrink, distorting your quilt. Keep the wash and rinse water at tepid/baby bath temperature, use Orvus or some other similar PH neutral soap and you should have no problems.
All may not be lost if you do shrink a quilt with wool batting – a friend re-washed a disaster, then very carefully pinned it out, in much the same way as you block a tapestry, to dry. She fixed the problem.
You can get black wool batting in NZ so for Amish type quilts or those with dark fabrics, you can choose this option. And its real black, crock dyed wool, not charcoal grey.
As for the fibre migrating – Juliet Taylor, a New Zealand quilter did an extensive research programme on this and dicovered that it was a self limiting problem – after the seventh wash, the fibres had linked together sufficiently so there was no more bearding. All those loose fibres then disengaged themselves in time.
I am happy to email the text of this research to anyone who is interested.
Anne Scott
Editor & Publisher
New Zealand QUILTER magazine
Wellington, New Zealand
From: KAREN BUSH <Birdsong [at] worldnet [dot] att [dot] net>
To: QHL [at] cuenet [dot] com
Subject: QHL wool batting
Hobbs has been the leader in wool batting, but, like everything else, the market is getting more manufacturers of it. There are several new ones this past year. One is called “NatureOs Comfort”…the “O” has a little squiggle at the top and I can’t type that in. It comes in soft ivory and a dark. It’s l00% natural fiber. I haven’t used this one yet.
But in general, I Love to quilt with wool, it needles beautifully, just like quilting through butter.
I have washed And dried the Hobbs, and depending on the amount of quilting, have had a lot of success with it. Most of the customers right now, prefer the ‘puckered’ look and wash/dry for the quilting to draw up to give the ‘antique’ look. I really don’t know why ‘puckered’ would be ‘antique’, but, it does give it a great look. If the quilting isn’t dense enough, then the quilt/wool batting will draw even more. Sometimes a little TOO much. I’m working on one now with wool batting, and the batting was a new product, I don’t know the maker since it was already sandwiched and basted when I got it, but, it’s needling beautifully. The batt has no scrim (finish of poly to keep it from shredding, a bonding process) and, unlike cotton, I don’t have to contend with seeds in there.
I would think, though, that you have to be very careful with oils just like the cotton batts. I’m sure there’s more on the market, I just haven’t been paying attention lately. Has anyone bitten the bullet,yet and bought a SILK batting???? I tried a sample, and it’s like quilting air…..WONDERFUL! But, I just can’t spend $l20 for a batting! haha…
Oh, and I just read the post about this and the army blankets. I found out last year, that the Navy blankets, are off white. I bought one from the Salvation Army and it’s stencil says Property of the USN Medical Corps…??? it’s a lovely off white and the same weight (ugh, HEAVY) as the old green army blankets….I’m using mine for a Poncho/type cape. )
kb
— http://www.idahoquilt.com
KAREN BUSH- “QUILT AS DESIRED” The Tell All book on Hand Quilting AND Professional Hand Quilting Services
Member of American Quilter’s Society
Member of the Professional HandCrafters http://thelistmanagers.com/procrafter.htm
~~
<< We have our wool batts made custom for us by a mill in Minnesota. They are very thin queen sized batts — 2 pounds of wool per batt. The wool has been scoured to remove all lanolin so you don’t have to worry about the lanolin seeping into your quilt tops and batts. There are no resins added and no polyester scrim — just wool.
We also have a few black wool batts made each year from the sheep at Round Hill farm. Same size, and only the black sheep are sheared for us. They are dark black with just a hint to deep brown glow. Also 2 opund batts. Very thin and soft.
For more information drop a note or give us a call.
Nancy Kirk
~~~
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 08:49:48 EST | From: Feathrwate [at] aol [dot] com
About Orvus I use it to wash quilts, and, since we have horses to wash, we have the large size at all times. I would be happy to send a sample once to anyone wishing to use it. Just send a SASE. Feathrwate [at] aol [dot] com for snailmail address
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 11:51:58 -0600 | From: Laura Hobby Syler <texas_quilt.co [at] mail [dot] airmail [dot] net>
For those of you who are not members of VQTS, Lisa Erlandson (my partner in crime) wrote a very good article on the mourning customs (albeit too short!) for the November issue of the newsletter. She only began to scratch the surface and plans to do more research and more aritcles.
Laura
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Richardson, TX 75082 for a complimentary copy of the newsletter and membership application. ******************************************************** At 0821 PM 11/21/98 EST, Tmauvlus [at] aol [dot] com wrote
>In a message dated 11/21/98 15130 PM Eastern Standard Time, jeanntom [at] utkux [dot] utcc [dot] utk [dot] edu writes
><< small box that was black with silver or white printing and were labeled “Black Toilet Pins”. >>
>Jean, you didn’t mention if the pins were antique or of recent vintage.
It is
>possible that they were for use during a time of mourning. Those folks were verrrrrrrry serious about the mourning rituals, as we have often discussed here. Teddy Pruett
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 14:41:12 -0600 | From: lessmann [at] earthlink [dot] net (Ellen Lessmann)
Jean’s question and mention of black ‘toilet pins’ triggered a memory, and I wonder if there is a connection. While visiting in the Amish area of Pennyslvania several years ago, I noticed the women used straight pins to fasten their apparel–I remember all of the very neat pins fastening the aprons, etc. When one uses the dictionary, toilet can mean -the process of dressing, washing, shaving, making up the face, doing one’s hair etc. also all the clothes and accessories which a woman dressed with style is wearing, as an elaborate toilet. Just wonder if the black pins would be used in an attempt to keep a plain ‘toilet’? Just an idea– A usual lurker, Ellen in Omaha
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 17:06:19 EST | From: QuiltFixer [at] aol [dot] com
lessmann [at] earthlink [dot] net writes
<< . While visiting in the Amish area of
Pennyslvania several years ago, I noticed the women used straight pins to fasten their apparel–I remember all of the very neat pins fastening the aprons, etc., >>
I think you are on to something here. I have a Redwork apron obviously made by children or a child for Mother? or Grandmother? It is from the l800s and has no ties, just loops that I think were for pins. Very probably this was from: the German part of PA and there are a lot of similarities with the Amish there. Any one else have any information on this type of apron? Made out of flour sack or at least not patterned sack. My Grandmother told me when she was a little girl that her clothes were pinned with straight pins, especially underclothing. Toni Baumgard
QuiltFixer [at] aol [dot] com
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 08:06:45 +0800 | From: Rohmac <rohmac [at] iinet [dot] net [dot] au>
I am having terrible visions of strange mourning customs using black pins… They didn’t stick them into themselves or each other did they! If the widow did not seem sufficiently ‘sorrowful’ when her mean ole husband died, did her mother-in-law stick her with a black pin to ‘encourage’ a few tears?! I guess the offshoot of black mourning pins would be chain mail widow weeds.
Robyn
Perth Western Australia still wondering…
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 10:24:44 -0600 | From: Hope Seider <nsg007 [at] mail [dot] connect [dot] more [dot] net>
Many thanks to all the kind folk who took the time to send me information about wool batting. I’m looking forward to using it on my next small piece! I did love the way it made the quilting look on the pieces I saw. They were very flat, but although I was twenty to thirty feet away, it seemed I could see every beautiful stitch.
I have Orvus, and wash all my quilts in it, so it’s good to know it would be suitable for the wool batts, too.
I’m glad to know that if I make an heirloom <g>, the moth larvae aren’t as likely to get in it as I’d thought. If a small hole or tear developed, this could be a problem, though, as it would no longer be encased in cotton and protected.
I will talk to Addy at Pinetree. She helped me when I needed to buy Synthrapol and the reds in my quilt were melting from my hot iron onto the whites.
I’ve decided it would be prudent to include washing and handling instructions along with fabric content on the label.
People were kind enough to send me local sources for wool batting, and I’ve even met a “neighbor”! (Hi, Karen!)
Thanks again! You all are great!
Hope in SW Missouri nsg007 [at] mail [dot] connect [dot] more [dot] net
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 18:38:12 -0600 | From: Russell-Hill <russhill [at] ctesc [dot] net>
Until after the Civil War ladies would pin the bibs of their aprons to their dresses. I use safty pins though when I need to pin my apron to my dress when I am in Civil War clothing. I did the straight pins and scratched my self so bad during one weekend. We are part of a medical unit and when protraying a nurse we would use aprons with bibs. When you are assisting and moving it is a great way to draw blood on yourself. Safty pins had been invented by then incase you should wonder.
I do not know why they did not have ties except that mens aprons had ties and they may not have felt ties were lady like.
Debbie russhill [at] ctesc [dot] net
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 21:11:38 +0400 | From: Xenia Cord <xecord [at] netusa1 [dot] net>
Another name for one type of apron is pinafore – pin afore, get it? Xenia (- who has a collection of 400+ aprons, and does programs.)
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 21:19:50 -0500 | From: Nancy Roberts <robertsn [at] norwich [dot] net>
Hi group- While checking on availability of back issues, I clicked on the Chitra Publications link that I added to a recent post. However, I got a file error and was not able to access the site using it. I’m not sure if any of you tried it and had a problem, but here is the link again. If you want to visit, hope this one gets you there! Nancy http://www.QuiltTownUSA.com/
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 21:15:20 -0500 | From: Alan Kelchner <quiltfix [at] mail [dot] jax [dot] bellsouth [dot] net>
Teddy’s right on the money with this. I have a box of pins that appear to be c. 1890 that are actually labeled “Mourning Pins”. The pins have what looks like anodized metal (since I have no idea how long anodization has been around, they could actually be something else), and the ends are black glass. But they do appear to be made to keep that black clothing neat and gap-less.
I bought them because the whole concept interesting.
They may be newer than 1890. When did US trade rules start requiring items be marked with the country of origin? This box says “Made in Japan”. I can never remember those date: s.
Alan
